He denied assaulting Mr Hignett and that charge was dropped. Sentencing him to three years four months detention Judge Mark Brown said: “It is clear from the many character references that your actions that night were clearly alien to you and can only be put down to the fact that you were significantly affected by drink.

“What you did was dreadfully serious. You attacked a man in the street. Whatever your motivation there can be no justification for that at all.”

Daniel Prowse, defending, said Swindells was sincerely remorseful and accepted he had to be punished.

He had worked mainly in warehouse work and was currently employed by Matalan, he added.

Since the age of 16 he had been involved voluntarily coaching seven to nine-year-olds in the Dynamo Rangers FC and also helped children with difficulties, the court was told.